Fireworks have been known for various traditional and ritual celebrations. The preparations for the night of 31st December to celebrate New Year Eve are acknowledged around the world! Giant Fireworks in Manchester are a part of different celebrations in the city. While huge firework celebrations are costly, there have been reported cases of fireworks adversely affecting the environment. Furthermore, there are some strict regulations in most of the countries on the use of firework on the account of its disastrous malfunctioning.

The Reported Cases of Explosion

There have been several cases reported of the explosion of various fireworks in different parts of the world. Some of these cases are given below:

According to one report, in 2012 there was a firework explosion in Salford: “Two mothers had called for a ban on fireworks after their sons suffered severe burns in an industrial firework blast in Salford…..The 10 and 11-year-old boys both suffered burns to their hands and face, a Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said.”(1)

Another report in 2018 confirmed an explosion in Australian Beach on New Year Eve in the following words: “Two people were injured when a barge carrying a New Year fireworks display caught fire at an Australian beach. A few minutes into the show at Terrigal Beach in New South Wales, an apparent malfunction caused fireworks to go off at random, some towards the beach. Thousands of people on the beach had to be moved to safety and police sealed off the area.(2)

One more report in 2019 reported another explosion at Italian Fireworks Factory in the following words: “Italian rescue services say a blast at a fireworks factory in Sicily has killed five people and seriously injured two others.”(3)

One more report stated an explosion in the following words: “During a holiday celebration in Ohio, about 30 people were in a backyard enjoying each other’s company. A single spark from a sparkler fell onto a bag of fireworks. That spark set off the fireworks which exploded on the ground.”(4)

There are always new cases of firework explosion reported every year in different parts of the world. These cases are resulting from either personal negligence or the negligence of regulating authorities.

The Reasons behind the Explosion

The reasons behind the explosion are the chemical compounds used in the manufacturing of the firework. The main explosive component of the firework is the gunpowder containing potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal. During an explosion, the loud sonic boom is produced as a result of the expansion of gases at a faster rate than the speed of the sound.

The Legal Regulations Surrounding Firework

The new EU policies have divided the firework use into categories with restricted age and the extent of the dangerous nature of the firework. With the increasing concern surrounding the malfunctioning of fireworks, there may be further strict regulations implemented in the future!